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Wisconsin newspapers celebrate open government during Sunshine Week

sunshine week 2021

Wisconsin newspapers this week are recognizing the importance of open government as a part of Sunshine Week, an annual nationwide celebration of open government that runs March 14-20.

Several Adams Publishing Group newspapers kicked things off ahead of the week by running an editorial that encouraged readers to join them in recognizing Sunshine Week. Published by the Watertown Daily Times and Sun Prairie Star, among others, the editorial focused on the importance of the Freedom of Information Act and Wisconsin’s Public Records Law. It also pointed to coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of how newspapers use open records for the public’s benefit.

Sunday, March 14

In Madison, the Wisconsin State Journal on Sunday published an editorial encouraging more transparency in Wisconsin government. In the editorial, the State Journal focused on Senate Bill 55 and why it would be bad for open government in Wisconsin. The newspaper also published a guest column by Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, which makes the argument that open government is the key to honest government. Paulson’s column also was published in several other Wisconsin newspapers over the last week, including the Ladysmith News and The (Medford) Star-News, among others.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, along with many of Gannett’s other daily newspapers in Wisconsin, published a pair of stories Sunday in their “Ideas Lab” section. They included an Associated Press story for Sunshine Week on governments delaying access to public records during the pandemic and the “Your Right to Know” column for March by Matthew DeFour of the State Journal, which advocates for a more open redistricting process in Wisconsin.

Monday, March 15

On Monday, the Star published a guest column by Rep. Gary Hebl (D-Sun Prairie) in which the state representative supported the weeklong celebration of open government.

The Journal Sentinel on Monday also reported on a budget proposal that would make it cheaper in some cases for the public to obtain public records. Gov. Tony Evers’ proposal would increase from $50 to $100 the threshold at which government agencies are allowed to begin charging for records.

Wednesday, March 17

Several of Wisconsin’s weekly newspapers joined the Sunshine Week efforts on Wednesday. The Amery Free Press, Barron News-Shield, Edgerton Reporter, (Hayward) Sawyer County Record and (Eagle River) Vilas County News-Review each published editorials advocating for open government.

In Marinette, the EagleHerald published a guest editorial from the La Crosse Tribune, which focuses on drawing Wisconsin’s new legislative maps “in the light of day.”

Richard Moore, an investigative reporter and columnist for The Lakeland Times, wrote a pair of Sunshine Week stories for the Minocqua newspaper. In the first, he recaps the year that was in 2020 for open government in Wisconsin. In the second, a column, Moore says it is time to reform Wisconsin’s “outdated open government laws.” Moore’s column also was published Wednesday in a number of other newspapers, including the Free Press and The (Ontario) County Line.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette on Wednesday published a story on American Indian incarceration rates that relied heavily on public records. In the story, Frank Vaisvilas reported that as many as half the in inmates in some jails are American Indians.

In another story, the Press-Gazette continued its reporting on the controversy that has erupted over electoral practices in the city. In its latest coverage, the newspaper uses city records and official sources to dig into what actually happened in November.

David Haynes, editor of the Ideas Lab for the Journal Sentinel and leader of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Editorial Board, published a column on Wednesday advocating for a more open redistricting process in Wisconsin. In the column, Haynes encourages readers to contact their elected officials to help “put an end to this corruption.”

Thursday, March 18

The Star-Observer on Thursday added its voice to Sunshine Week, publishing an editorial. The Hudson newspaper focused on the transparency of local officials during the pandemic and the responsibility of all citizens in preserving open government.

The Valders Journal also published a Sunshine Week editorial in its newspaper Thursday. The editorial served as a reminder that citizens deserve transparency from their government.

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin published a story Thursday on Wisconsin school boards’ desire to make superintendent evaluations secret and no longer subject to public records requests. In the story, open government advocates oppose the move, while school boards say it would allow them to be more honest.

Friday, March 19

The Lakeland Times and its sister newspaper in Rhinelander, The Northwoods River News, on Friday published open records grades for local, state and national officials. The grades ranged from A+ (the best of the best) to F- (the worst of the worst), while also including a handful of incomplete grades for recently elected U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and President Joe Biden.

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin on Friday continued its Sunshine Week efforts, publishing a story on the spread of COVID-19 and what Wisconsin residents are being told about it one year into the pandemic. The story reports that since the beginning of the pandemic, Wisconsin’s governmental bodies have chosen to make public very little data about the locations of COVID-19 outbreaks in the state.

In Waukesha on Friday, The Freeman published several open records stories as part of its Sunshine Week efforts. In one story, the newspaper reports the city and village of Waukesha have spent more than $70,000 on lawsuits filed against each other over the past two years. Another story detailed the more than $229,000 spent on litigation by the city of Waukesha since January 2017. Finally, a third story reported on the nearly $10,000 price tag for a cell tower lawsuit in the village of Waukesha.

Check back throughout the week as we continue to highlight Sunshine Week coverage in Wisconsin’s newspapers.

Have something to add to our list? Email WNA Membership & Programming Specialist Jordan Schelling at jordan.schelling@wnanews.com

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